Chiropractic care of the spine and soft tissues can have many profound effects on the body. In a recent smaller study, a certain chiropractic adjusting technique was used as a form of treatment for females suffering from dysmenorrhea - severe abdominal pain during menstruation. A total of 13 women participated in the study. The women had a median age of 26 and reported to have suffered symptoms of dysmenorrhea for an average period of 12 years. The women were treated 3 times with a chiropractic adjusting technique during each of their 2 consecutive menstrual cycles. During the treatment phase, researchers found a clinically significant reduction in the women's general abdominal pain and lower back pain. Researchers concluded that menstrual pain associated with primary dysmenorrhea may be alleviated with this type of chiropractic treatment.

If you're one of the many who suffer from chronic neck pain, chiropractic care may definitely be your fix. Chiropractors have their 'black-belts", so to speak, when it comes to treating conditions of the soft tissues and spine. One of the many forms of non-invasive treatments chiropractors utilize is exercise. In a recent study, strength exercises were shown to reduce chronic neck and shoulder pain. In this study, 48 women suffering from chronic pain in the trapezius region were randomly assigned to either a supervised strength exercise group or aerobic exercise group. Those in the strength exercise group exercised their neck and shoulder muscles using weights, performing basic exercises such as shoulder shrugs and side laterals. Women in the aerobic exercise group rode stationary bikes. Both groups performed their exercises 3 times per week for 10 weeks. Afterwards, those participating in the neck and shoulder strength training group experienced a 70 to 80 percent reduction in their neck pain. However, those in the aerobic exercise group experienced short-term relief immediately after exercising, but their pain returned shortly after. There are many causes of neck pain, some of which are extremely serious. Thus, prior to initiating any exercise regimen, please consult with your primary health care provider, such as your local chiropractic doctor.

With just one week of exercise, researchers have shown that sedentary elderly individuals at risk of acquiring diabetes can significantly improve the function of their insulin-making beta cells. Beta cells become less effective over time as people age, becoming less sensitive to the blood sugar-regulating effects of insulin. In this study, researchers found that in just one week of one-hour daily exercise, the 12 study participants, aged 60 and older, experienced an average increased insulin sensitivity of 53 percent and an average improved disposition index (a measure of beta cell function) of 28 percent. While this study was extremely short-term, it does show the powerful effects of exercise in the aging as well as the need for further longer-term studies. Sedentary elderly individuals should check with their primary health care provider, such as their local chiropractic doctor, prior to initiating any exercise regimen.

According to French researchers, women can lower their risk of stroke and heart disease by simply drinking tea. Researchers found that women who drank three or more cups of tea daily had a lower incidence of plaquing in the carotid arteries of the neck. In the study, researchers analyzed the carotid arteries via ultrasound in 3,984 women with an average age of 73. Carotid plaques were found in 44 percent of the women who did not drink tea, 42.5 percent who drank 1 to 2 cups of tea daily and 33.7 percent of those drinking at least 3 cups of tea daily. Interestingly, the researchers did not find similar results in men and could not explain why women benefited from tea drinking while the men did not.